Tips 1 - 9 of 9 Santa Catalina Island Things to Do
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Things To Do: The Casino
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This grand Art Deco landmark structure has nothing in common with Las Vegas gambling houses. When it was built in 1929, America was in the a dance craze, and dance pavilions called "casinos" sprang up all over the country.. The Casino Ballroom was one of the finest, drawing thousands of well-dressed dancers from the mainland. They came by steamship to Charleston and later jitterbug on the huge parquet floor, then later to dance to the the Big Band music of the 1930's and 1940's.
Although the big bands have faded away, the Casino Ballroom still attracts crowds for celebrations of all sorts. Twelve stories high and 180 feet in diameter, the Casino has an Art Deco movie theater downstairs and a simply enormous ballroom on top. Completely restored just a few years ago, the ballroom retains its original style; rose-hued walls, black Art Deco reliefs, an arching fifty-foot ceiling with five Tiffany chandeliers, an elevated stage, raised seating areas around the dance floor, and a vintage, full-service bar in back. The outdoor balcony that encircles the ballroom overlooks Avalon Bay where seals, dolphins, and brightly-colored fish are swim in the clear waters. And from here the view of the mainland is fabulous, sometimes stretching all the way from Ventura to San Diego.
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Directions: Right on Avalon Bay, can't miss it.
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Things To Do: The Buffalo
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If you take a trip to the backside of the Island, don't be surprised to see a herd of buffalo. They were brought to the Island for the filming of "The Vanishing American" and they were left here where they have continued to flourished.
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Things To Do: The Wrigley Mansion
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In 1919, William Wrigly Jr. (yes, the gum guy) bought the Island. Wrigley bought the island to develop it, but then he decided to keep it in its natural state and protect it. He only allowed a few animals and plants to be brought here from the mainland. The Wrigley mansion is now a "Wrigley Marine Science Center " where students learn about the island and where they teach about diving, marine mammals, diving accident management and other classes. It also contains a hyper baric chamber - It is an emergency center for the treatment of scuba diving accidents.
You can only see the gate into the mansion, as it is no longer open to the public. It was at one time as I remember touring the grounds and the house.
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Things To Do: Hike Around Town
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If you want some exercise you can walk the quaint little streets on the Island. There are some unusual houses and areas reminded me of San Francisco.
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Things To Do: Botanical Gardens
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Mrs. Wrigley was responsible for inviting a horticulturalist to plant the botanical garden, which is now called the Wrigley Memorial Garden. The original garden was planted in 1935 and was expanded again in 1969 to over 37 acres. There grows indigenous plants, mostly cactus, from the California islands. Some of these plants grow nowhere else in the world many are on the Endangered Species list.
At the high point of the garden, overlooking Avalon Bay, sits a monument to honor William Wrigley Jr. for his dedication to Catalina. He not only built the famous Casino but he made vast improvements on the island such as public utilities and new steamships as well as extensive planting of trees, shrubs and flowers. Nearly all the materials used to build this monument came from the Island.
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Things To Do: Sunbathing
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The beach on Avalon Bay is quite popular and it's filled with sunbathers during the summer months. I prefer visiting there in the spring or fall when the weather is still warm. The bay was called "Bay of the Seven Moons" at one time.
The house you see in the background perched up on the hill is called Holly Hill House. It was completed in 1889 by a Frenchman and with his horse "Mercury" pulled the lumber up from the beach to build it. The house has now been restored to elegance by the present owner.
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 Comments for Goner about Santa Catalina Island | | | | |
kyoub Sun Mar 8, 2009 14:10 UTC
Very informative page. Now I know what I missed by not going there. Sounds like a fun day. | 123stingrayzjeff Fri Aug 18, 2006 17:00 UTC
Awesome info on Catalina!! I have been here every so often and I always enjoy it..I am a California native and I am always amazed at how many of us never venture to Catalina..That's Ok it's already really popular!! | sim1 Sat Jan 8, 2005 06:36 UTC
Great page Nancy! It sounds like a perfect weekend get-a-way! Wow, I would never expect that there would be buffalo on this island! Great! :-)) | wcph Mon Sep 27, 2004 09:13 UTC
Another nice and interesting page. Best wishes, wcph. |
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